Dut Acot, Yoram Thomas Banyen, Lasender Sheriff: Men admit to role in teens savage bashing

Three men involved in the vicious group bashing of a Brisbane teenager were filmed congratulating everyone after the heinous act, with some members cheering “we f**ked that n****r, he’s dead”, a court has been told.

Dut Acot, Yoram Thomas Banyen and Lasender Sheriff were separated by glass docks as they learned their fate over two violent assaults – which were linked to gang-related activities – in late 2021.

It was standing-room only at Brisbane District Court on Monday as family and supporters of the victim – along with the victim himself – packed the courtroom, accompanied by a heavy police and security presence.

District Court Judge David Kent had to urge people in the gallery to be quiet as many of them spoke and failed to turn off their phones.

“I’m not conducting this in the front bar of a hotel – court needs to be quiet,” he said after the lunch adjournment.

The court was told the shocking attacks unfolded at separate units in South Brisbane and Milton on August 28, 2021.

Crown prosecutor James Bishop said Acot, 20 and Sheriff, 19, were affiliated with the “Southside Drillas” street gang.

Banyen, 22, was associated with multiple other co-offenders who joined in the assaults, Mr Bishop said.

He said the first victim, 17, was invited to an 18th birthday party at a South Brisbane apartment on the night when a group of young men – including Acot, Banyen and Sheriff – arrived after 3am.

The complainant was punched and pulled to the floor during the fracas, he said.

Other members of the group joined in assaulting him “severely”.

The court was told the teenage victim was kicked so hard, his head hit the wall of the apartment and left a hole.

Another co-offender filmed the assault, laughing and saying: “They’re gonna kill him bro, they’re gonna kill him”.

The teen’s unconscious body was dragged outside to a patio where the group assaulted him further, before fleeing.

Mr Bishop said the teen had numerous missing teeth and suffered swelling, redness, bruises to his face and scalp and a large laceration to his lower and upper lift.

The second assault occurred at a Milton apartment on another 17-year-old who did not know any of the offenders.

Mr Bishop said a large group of people attended the party and set upon the sleeping teen.

He said the victim was kicked, punched and stomped on by several others as he lay in a foetal position, while some filmed the carnage.

“The complainant was screaming in pain before he lost consciousness,” Mr Bishop said.

Acot, Banyen and Sheriff did not assault the victim, but the court was told they were liable as they knew their co-offenders intended to assault the victim.

During the elevator ride down following the assault, members of the group were filmed congratulating each other and yelling: “We f***ed that n****r, he’s dead”.

An ambulance arrived shortly after to treat the victim, who was unconscious and struggling to breathe.

He was later placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors discovering he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

“Had the complainant not received medical attention, he likely would have died from the injuries,” Mr Bishop said.

The court was told the victim still had impairments to his co-ordination, memory and executive function. He also suffers from seizures.

All three pleaded guilty to one count each of malicious act with intent.

Sheriff also entered pleas of guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, wilful damage and two counts of breaching bail.

Banyen pleaded guilty to additional counts of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company and contravening a police order by refusing to give officers the passcode to his phone.

The court was told the trio’s liability for the malicious act with intent was because they were a party to the offence by their presence when the victim was attacked.

Judge Kent said the offences were seriously violent and underpinned by a perceived alliance with a rival gang.

“It is yet to be demonstrated (the second complainant) will fully recover,” he said.

“This is extremely serious offending.”

Banyen received a head sentence of six years’ jail, with parole eligibility in September.

Acot was jailed for four years, which was declared cumulative on his current jail term, with parole eligibility in November.

Sheriff received a head sentence of five and a half years’ jail.

The trio’s time spent in pre-sentence custody since their arrest was declared as time served.

The court was told many of the other juvenile offenders still had matters outstanding before the courts.

Mr Banyen’s defence barrister submitted his client had not struck either of the victims and was being sentenced as a party to the offences.

He submitted his client had significant problems with alcohol and drugs and was “severely” injured during a previous road rage incident.

Angus Edwards, representing Sheriff, said his client was the youngest of six children when his family fled Sudan.

Sheriff, who had a promising rugby league career, began to “misbehave” when his grandmother died.

Scott Lynch, acting for Acot, said the first complainant was his Acot’s cousin and that he attempted to intervene during the assault.

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